T20 World Cup: South Africa end India’s winning run

AHMEDABAD, India (AP):

South Africa stunned T20 World Cup defending champions India with a 76-run victory yesterday in the Super Eights with the tournament co-hosts dismissed for 111.

It was a completely dominant performance from the Proteas, who lost to India in the final of the 2024 edition.

India’s 12-match winning run since the 2024 tournament came to an end as left-arm pacer Marco Jansen took 4-22 in 3.5 overs.

India were bowled out for 111 runs in 18.5 overs after South Africa chose to bat first and scored 187-7. David Miller hit 63 off 35 balls, with seven fours and three sixes, in the Group 1 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Yesterday proved to be a dismal day for both co-hosts at the T20 World Cup as Sri Lanka crashed to a 51-run defeat to England in Pallekele.

MILLER LEADS SOUTH AFRICA’S RECOVERY

South Africa surprised almost everyone by choosing to bat and were at 20-3 in four overs. Jasprit Bumrah (3-15 in four overs) bowled opener Quinton de Kock for six and then Ryan Rickelton was out caught for seven.

In-form skipper Aiden Markram made only four and was caught off Arshdeep Singh. But the Proteas rallied hard with their middle order coming good.

Dewald Brevis hit 45 runs off 29 balls, and put on 97 off 50 balls with Miller for the fourth wicket to change the momentum.

Brevis hit three sixes, while Miller raced to 50 off only 26 balls as India didn’t have any answers after the power play. Miller hit three sixes and six fours in his half-century.

Shivam Dube provided the breakthrough in the 13th over, but there was no immediate respite. Miller quickly added another 35 off 20 balls with Tristan Stubbs, who hit 44 not out off 24 balls, including three sixes.

Miller fell in the 16th over – caught off Varun Chakravarthy – but Stubb’s momentum gave plenty for South Africa to defend.

India got off to a disastrous start – Markram trapped Ishan Kishan with his off-spin. The in-form opener was out caught for a four-ball duck.

From 26-3, it became 51-5 in 9.1 overs for India – Corbin Bosch struck twice in successive overs, removing Washington Sundar (11) and then skipper Suryakumar Yadav (18).

Dube scored 42 off 37, with neither Hardik Pandya (18) nor Rinku Singh (0) able to change the game. Left-arm pacer Keshav Maharaj picked up 3-24 in three overs.

It was India’s biggest defeat (by runs) in T20 World Cups.

ENGLAND START SUPER EIGHTS WITH BIG WIN

Phil Salt anchored England to 146-9 with a resolute 62 off 40 balls, and Jacks provided impetus to the total by smashing four boundaries in his 21-run knock in the death overs.

Sri Lanka crumbled to 95 all out as off-spinner Jacks picked up three wickets inside the power play and earned England their 12th consecutive win in a T20 against the hosts.

Jofra Archer (2-20) struck with a vital blow in his second over when Pathum Nissanka, who scored a century against Australia at the same venue during a group game, flicked a 150kph delivery straight to deep mid-wicket.

Sri Lanka batters struggled against Jacks’ fuller deliveries and slipped to 34-5 inside the first six overs. Kusal Mendis offered a tame return catch to Jacks and Pavan Rathanayake got dismissed off the first delivery when Jacks got a leading edge.

Captain Dasun Shanaka top-scored with 30 but fell to a brilliant relay catch at the boundary – involving Jacks and Tom Banton. Liam Dawson (2-27) and Adil Rashid (2-13) shared five wickets in helpful conditions.

Earlier, England’s top-order crashed against spinner Dunith Wellalage (3-26) as Jos Buttler’s (7) disappointing tournament continued.